Dental Emergency – Dental Trauma to Permanent Teeth

A dental emergency can occur at any time, regardless of the level of care we take to maintain good dental health. While regular brushing, flossing and visits to a dentist can all help to reduce the risk of cavities and tooth loss, we can still suffer trauma to our permanent teeth in other ways.

As children, there is an increased risk of teeth becoming injured due to falls as they begin to learn to walk and run. As children begin to get older and they begin to play sports, then physical risk increases.

Physical activities increase the risk of losing one or more teeth, especially in cases of contact sports which can damage our teeth, and even knock teeth out of our mouths altogether! It’s little wonder that so many athletes engaged in physical sports often utilize a mouth guard in order to protect their teeth.

Of course, we don’t have to be indulging in sports to run the risk of teeth being traumatized. Biting down on hard or raw foods exert pressures on our teeth which could in turn lead to chips or cracks forming in the tooth’s enamel that require treatment by a dentist.

Trips, slips and falls can occur at any time throughout our day-to-day lives; from a missed spillage in a supermarket aisle, to missing a step as we walk or run, the chances of suffering a fall and potentially suffering a dental emergency is always present to some degree.

And so, it is always important to ensure we have an action plan for when we do suffer a dental emergency. If travelling for instance, consider preparing an emergency kit to keep in a handbag. While guaze pads and antiseptics can be good for cuts and scrapes, a dentist can advise on items to include that can aid in the case of sudden dental-related trauma.

Swift remedial action in the event of a sudden event that damages teeth can often help to preserve the tooth, rather than require removal. If a tooth is lost, then it is possible that a dentist can re-implant it, for example, if the procedure to do so is performed quickly afterwards.

Dental trauma to permanent teeth can occur at any time, and with so much potential for unexpected dental trauma, it’s always important to know what to do in the event of a dental emergency.